Discover the most exciting Spring-Summer 2021 runways of the Milan roster below.
(swipe left for more photos)
Despite the unpredictable turn of events in 2020, the (fashion) shows must go on. And go on they did, albeit with social distancing measures at physical shows or going completely virtual on multiple online platforms.
Milan Fashion Week SS21 has just wrapped up, with themes of reinvention, introspection and renewal recurring across the shows. There were sentiments of hope, of gratitude and of optimism for brighter summer days in the year ahead.
Watch the most exciting Spring-Summer 2021 runways of the Milan roster below or swipe left on the gallery above for our favourite looks.
BOSS
Twenty years ago, the first ever BOSS womenswear show was held at the Palazzo del Senato in Milan. Two decades on, the brand returned to the site to stage a show symbolising creativity and renewal in the areas of craft, colour and artistry. Reflecting this theme, the collection brought forth a fresh, younger vision of the BOSS man and woman with hoodies, sneakers, drawstring trousers and bomber jackets on the runway. Striking hues of emerald, forest green, blue, cream and rose colour suits, shorts, bags and accessories. This is the new BOSS, and we’re here for it.
Fendi
Kicking off the Milan schedule was Fendi, which presented Silvia Venturi Fendi’s final womenswear collection for the house. After months of spending ample time at home with family, her designs evidently reflected a quiet introspection with the soft colour palette and airy silhouettes. Flora prints and latticework furs appeared across sheer dresses and tunics, coats and skirts, shirts and blouses – alluding to the theme of shadows and reflections while celebrating the house’s craftmanship. If anything, the collection was the perfect swan song to conclude her rein.
Max Mara
For a house founded at a time of rebirth after a postwar era, Max Mara is no stranger to reinvention. Assuming a leading role in Italy with its artisanal craftsmanship then, the house continues to put its strongest foot forward in today’s world where fashion must evolve. True to the ‘bella figura’ notion, the credo of being your best by presenting your best self, the brand presents a collection embodying modern alchemy through butter-soft cashmere spolverinos, meticulously tailored suits, poplin shirts and pleated pants. Accompanying the ready-to-wear looks are a mix of oversized bags and small leather accessories.
Moschino
If you haven’t already seen it all over social media, Moschino’s “No Strings Attached” show turned out to be quite the opposite. In lieu of models walking down a runway, there were 40 puppets showing off miniature versions of the looks designed by Jeremy Scott. Each scaled-down garment was as painstakingly crafted as you’d expect of the actual designs, with complex seams, corsetry boning and embroidery adorning jackets, chiffon skirts, cocktail dresses and full-length gowns. Even the usual front-row suspects (we spotted Anna Wintour and Vanessa Friedman) had their marionette equivalents made for the whimsical puppet show.
Prada
The anticipation was high for Miuccia Prada and Raf Simon’s first collection together at the helm of Prada – and the resulting digital show was, as they called it, “a fundamental examination of the meaning of Prada”. This translated to a pared down succession of uniform-like styles, from coats grasped at the chests by the models to satin shift dresses and hole-y turtlenecks. A supersized take on the signature triangular Prada logo marks most, if not all, of the 40 looks, alongside phrases and graphic prints from circa 1996.
Salvatore Ferragamo
It was a Hitchcockian affair at Ferragamo’s live-streamed show, which commenced with a short film directed by Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino of Call me by Your Name (2017) fame. Creative director Paul Andrew had been re-watching classic Hitchcock films – namely The Birds, Marnie and Vertigo – hence the surreal colour palette of herded green, vertigo mauve, technicolour yellow, gull gray and bodega bay sky blue looks. Nappa, lambskin and chiffon fabrics were fashioned into three-dimensional creations, such as sharply-tailored suits, overalls, and knit mini dresses.
Valentino
Pierpaolo Piccioli ended Milan Fashion Week’s physical runways with a show that celebrated radical romanticism. Envisioned through the eyes of men and women from all walks of life, his idea of romanticism here takes on varying perspectives – there are masculine blouses made from chiffon; long, loose blazers paired with short shorts; and a mix of mini dresses and fluid gowns. Floral prints and lacework ornamented various pieces across the egalitarian looks, whilst house-signature rockstuds embellished the accessories, including bags and footwear.
Photos courtesy of respective brands